Frietas was a combat engineer who began active duty in the Marine Corps in August 2004, according to the Marines.

He was promoted to the rank of sergeant in September 2008 and began his tour on Okinawa in June.

“He was a very good Marine, and it always hits hard when you lose one of your Marines,” Maj. Victor A. Chin, the executive officer of Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, said in a statement today. "He will be missed."

Frietas received a number of awards, including the Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Unit Commendation, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon